Method and system for synchronizing transport streams of multiple transponders for area critical applications

Abstract

Disclosed is a transport stream synchronizing system for synchronizing transport streams output from a plurality of transponders and decoded by a plurality of tuners. The transport stream synchronizing system comprises a tuner selector operable to select one transport stream out of a plurality of transport streams decoded by the plurality of tuners, a transport packet synchronizer operable receive the transport stream selected by the tuner selector, and synchronize the received transport stream; and a transport packet arbiter and router operable to receive a synchronized transport stream from the selected tuner, and route the received synchronized transport stream to a predetermined destination.

1. A transport stream synchronizing system for synchronizing transport streams output from a plurality of transponders and decoded by a plurality of tuners, the transport stream synchronizing system comprising:
 a tuner selector operable to select one transport stream out of a plurality of transport streams decoded by the plurality of tuners; 
 a transport packet synchronizer operable to receive the transport stream selected by the tuner selector, and synchronize the received transport stream; and 
 a transport packet arbiter and router operable to receive a synchronized transport stream from the selected tuner, and route the received synchronized transport stream to a predetermined destination, wherein the transport packet arbiter and router comprises a timer mechanism, and wherein the transport packet arbiter and router is operable to select a next tuner for synchronization of the corresponding transport stream when a time counted by the timer mechanism has elapsed and a transport stream being synchronized has not been synchronized. 
 
     
     
       2. The transport stream synchronizing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport packet arbiter and router selects one of the plurality of tuners for synchronization of the corresponding transport stream, and informs the tuner selector to select the corresponding transport stream. 
     
     
       3. The transport stream synchronizing system according to  claim 2 , wherein the transport packet arbiter and router selects tuners in a round robin order. 
     
     
       4. The transport stream synchronizing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport packet arbiter and router maintains a list of a synchronization status for each of the plurality of tuners. 
     
     
       5. The transport stream synchronizing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport packet arbiter and router periodically checks the synchronization status of each of the plurality of tuners. 
     
     
       6. A transport stream synchronizing system for synchronizing transport streams output from a plurality of transponders and decoded by a plurality of tuners, the transport stream synchronizing system comprising:
 a tuner selector operable to select one transport stream out of a plurality of transport streams decoded by the plurality of tuners; 
 a transport packet synchronizer operable to receive the transport stream selected by the tuner selector, and synchronize the received transport stream; and 
 a transport packet arbiter and router operable to receive a synchronized transport stream from the selected tuner, and route the received synchronized transport stream to a predetermined destination, wherein the transport packet arbiter and router periodically checks the synchronization status of each of the plurality of tuners, and wherein the transport packet arbiter and router selects a tuner for re-synchronization of the corresponding transport stream when it is determined that the corresponding transport stream has dropped out of synchronization. 
 
     
     
       7. A transport stream synchronizing system for synchronizing transport streams output from a plurality of transponders and decoded by a plurality of tuners, the transport stream synchronizing system comprising:
 a tuner selector operable to select one transport stream out of a plurality of transport streams decoded by the plurality of tuners; 
 a transport packet synchronizer operable to receive the transport stream selected by the tuner selector, and synchronize the received transport stream; 
 a transport packet arbiter and router operable to receive a synchronized transport stream from the selected tuner, and route the received synchronized transport stream to a predetermined destination; and 
 a delay block associated with each transport stream, each delay block operable to impart a delay to the associated transport stream equal to the latency of the transport packet synchronizer. 
 
     
     
       8. A method for synchronizing transport streams output from a plurality of transponders and decoded by a plurality of tuners, comprising:
 selecting, by a tuner selector, one transport stream out of a plurality of transport streams decoded by the plurality of tuners; 
 receiving, at a transport packet synchronizer, the transport stream selected by the tuner selector, and synchronizing the received transport stream to produce a synchronized transport stream; 
 receiving, at a transport packet arbiter and router, the synchronized transport stream from the selected tuner, and routing the received synchronized transport stream to a predetermined destination; and 
 selecting a next tuner for synchronization of the corresponding transport stream when a time counted by a timer mechanism has elapsed and at least one transport stream has not been synchronized. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the transport packet arbiter and router selects one of the plurality of tuners for synchronization of the corresponding transport stream; and informs the tuner selector to select the corresponding transport stream. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selection of the tuners is in a round robin order. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising maintaining a list of a synchronization status for each of the plurality of tuners. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising periodically checking the synchronization status of each of the plurality of tuners. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising selecting a tuner for re-synchronization of the corresponding transport stream when it is determined that the corresponding transport stream has dropped out of synchronization. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising imparting a delay to the associated transport stream equal to the latency of the transport packet synchronizer.